Psychology Research Projects 2024

Emma Barker

Advisor: Dustin Albert

Parental behavior predictors of adolescent resilience to stress in a cross-national sample of adolescents.

Much of the research literature on the effects of early childhood experience on development has focused on links between early adversity exposure and later development of psychopathology. The target of much of this research is on the etiology of psychopathology. More recently, scholars have called for a shift in focus to identify aspects of early childhood experience that are associated with resilience in the face of stress exposure. There has also been a shift to examine the mechanisms behind childhood adversity and its developmental effects in order to more fully understand developmental processes. The current project will utilize data from the Parenting Across Cultures (PAC) study, a cross-national longitudinal study of adolescent development, to evaluate parenting behaviors that are associated with adolescent flourishing in the context of stress. More specifically we will examine associations between parenting behaviors (such as parental support for learning) and adolescent response to stressful experiences (such as the birth of a sibling). We will answer questions surrounding parental behaviors that act as protective factors for children who have experienced adversity. We will extend the research surrounding childhood adversity and adolescent resilience in the context of parental protective factors across cultures.

Priyanka Chandrasekar & Eva Yacura

Advisor: Ariana Orvell

The Role of Rituals on Helping Children Exert Self-Control

Young children are often  faced with situations in their daily lives where they are expected to show self-control and regulate their emotions. The common perception surrounding the exertion of self-control is that it is effortful. However, there’s growing evidence that it doesn’t have to be. Research shows that rituals—   predefined sets of actions that are carried out the same way each time —  may provide one less cognitively taxing way to promote self-control among adults, because they don’t require the enactor to consciously change their thought process and instead makes use of simple physical movements, unlike other tools for self-control such as reconstrual or mindfulness strategies (Hobson et al, 2018; Tian et al., 2018; Orvell, 2021). However, it’s unknown whether engaging in a ritual helps children enact self-control. To bridge this gap, we will explore how enacting a novel ritual affects children's perseverance at a task that requires self-control. In our study we use an experimental design where children, ages 6 to 9 years old, are randomly assigned to either a control condition, where they enact a set of random movements, or a ritual condition, where they are taught a simple and novel set of ritualized actions. Children in both conditions are encouraged to help the researcher with a boring computer task by locking as many pegs as they can onto a board with the option to take breaks at any point by playing a fun computer game, with a 15-minute time cap, mimicking everyday temptations in the real world. We will measure how long participants choose to work on the boring task, how many pegs they lock in the boring task, and how long participants play the fun game. Our hypothesis is that children assigned to the ritual condition will persist at the boring task for longer, and work more efficiently, than children in the control condition. This research may provide an easy and efficient way  for young children to persist longer at tasks that require self-control, such as completing homework.

References:

Hobson, N. M., Schroeder, J., Risen, J. L., Xygalatas, D., & Inzlicht, M. (2017). The Psychology of Rituals: An Integrative Review and Process-Based Framework.

Orvell, A. (2021). Grant Proposal – Can rituals help children exert self-control?.

Tian, A. D., Schroeder, J., Häubl, G., Risen, J., Norton, M. I., & Gino, F. (2024). Enacting rituals to improve self-control. SSRN Electronic Journal.

Liujun (Cynthia) Chen

Advisor: Thomas Le

Gendered Racial Microaggressions and Asian American Women’s Body Appreciation: An Intersectional Investigation

Distorted and negative body image is a significant health problem among Asian American women. This issue stems not only from mainstream beauty standards, which typically idealize slender European American women, but also from more direct race-related oppression faced by Asian American women. Previous research has identified various cultural and racial factors linked to disordered eating in this group, such as racial discrimination, self-esteem, and internalized media messages (Cheng, 2014). However, few studies have used an intersectional approach to examine the connection between gendered racial microaggressions and body appreciation among Asian American women.  This research study thus explores the association between gendered racial microaggressions and body appreciation among Asian American women. In addition, the current study also examines whether internalized racism mediates this association and if resistance and empowerment against racism moderates it. 

In the current study, Asian American women will complete a cross-sectional online survey. Participants will respond to several questionnaires including the primary variables of the study, such as body appreciation, gendered racial microaggressions, and resistance and empowerment against racism. I hypothesize that there will be a negative association between gendered racial microaggressions towards Asian American women and their body appreciation. Moreover, I propose that the internalization of racism acts as a mediator in this association, while resistance and empowerment against racism serves as a moderator. 

This study will provide insights on potential interventions for addressing negative body image among Asian American women. Specifically, it will be helpful for therapists to integrate racial factors, such as internalized racism, into their treatment to address issues related to body image. Therapists can also work on improving self-esteem and developing self-worth among Asian American women clients who have negative body image. Therapists may also consider encouraging Asian American female clients to opt into social environments and relationships where their intersecting identities are affirmed instead of derogated. 

Grace Foresman

Advisor: Cora Mukerji

Associations among self-reported and performance-based measures of inhibitory control, and childhood adversity

Inhibitory control, commonly referred to as self-control, is defined as a person’s ability to curb or alter their own behavior especially to conform to internal or external expectations (Duckworth and Kern, 2011; Buchanan, 2016). Understanding and accurately measuring inhibitory control is important as previous research has found low levels of inhibitory control can predict lower quality of life especially regarding health and financial stability (Saunders et al., 2018). The most common types of assessments used to study inhibitory control are self-report questionnaires and performance-based tasks such as the Flanker or Stroop tasks (Snyder et a., 2021). Though the assessments purport to measure inhibitory control, recent literature has yielded conflicting findings about the strength of correlations between these two methods of assessing inhibitory control (Duckworth and Kern, 2011). Some previous researchers found relatively weak correlations between self-report and performance-based tasks, while other studies found a strong correlation between the two methods (Saunders et al., 2018; Wenerhold and Friese, 2020; Buchanan et al., 2010). Similarly, regarding adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), previous research suggests that self-report versus performance-based measures of inhibitory control yield different patterns of association with ACEs. Researchers found that self-report measures of inhibitory control sometimes showing significant associations with ACEs, while performance-based measures show more varied findings in significant association (Compton et al, 2024; Fava et al., 2023).

For this summer, I intend to investigate the potential associations between self-report and performance-based measures of inhibitory control and their relationship to experiences with early childhood adversity. I will research these inconsistencies by first seeing if the self-report questionnaire BRIEF-A inhibitory subscale scores correlate with performance on the performance-based Flanker task in young adults. Then I will test whether adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) correlate with Flanker task performance and/or the BRIEF-A inhibitory subscale scores. I hypothesize that, based on previous research, that the BRIEF-A inhibitory subscale scores will have a low correlation with Flanker task performance (Saunders et al., 2018). However, the BRIEF-A inhibitory subscale scores and Flanker task performance will both show significant associations with ACEs based on the research by Compton et al. (2024 ) and Fava et al. (2023). Through this research, I hope to illustrate how these specific measures of inhibitory control relate to one another, which can further inform the similarities and differences between self-report and performance-based measures, and understand the potential ways inhibitory control may be impacted by exposure to early adversity.

Sofia Hanson

Advisor: Cora Mukerji

Assessing the mediating role of perceived stress in the association between childhood unpredictability and depression in young adulthood

Adverse childhood experiences, commonly referred to as ACEs, have been shown to have a myriad of effects later in life, long after a person’s initial exposure to the experience. For example, ACEs have been associated with greater perceived stress, which refers to the ways in which an individual reacts to or experiences the stress in their life (Benham et al., 2024; Gissandaner et al., 2022). Furthermore, both ACEs and perceived stress have been associated with poor mental health outcomes, including anxiety and depression (Ross et al., 2016; Gillespie & Rao, 2021). Childhood unpredictability refers to instability or unreliability in a child’s life in domains such as parental behavior, physical environment, and sense of safety. Recent studies have found relationships between childhood unpredictability and perceived stress (Qi et al., 2024), as well as between perceived stress and depression (Mirón et al., 2019). I plan to test whether childhood unpredictability is associated with how young adults perceive their current stress and whether this, in turn, is associated with depression. To do this, I will use survey responses to the Questionnaire of Unpredictability in Childhood (QUIC), which assesses unpredictability across five different subscales including parental involvement and physical environment; the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), which assesses people’s thoughts and feelings about their current stress; and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), which assesses symptoms of depression. I plan to analyze survey responses to determine whether perceived stress acts as a mediating factor forming an indirect pathway between childhood unpredictability and depression in young adulthood.

Tianyi Li

Advisor: Cora Mukerji

Do Positive Childhood Experiences Interact with Unpredictability in Childhood to Predict Cognitive Flexibility in Early Adulthood?

Cognitive flexibility (CF) is commonly defined as the ability to shift perspectives, thinking patterns, and strategies according to the context of a situation.  In this way, CF allows an individual to flexibly change behaviors to adapt to changing environmental contingencies (Diamond, 2013; Brown & Tait, 2014). Emerging studies suggest that experiencing unpredictable childhood environments may be linked to enhanced CF abilities (Fields et al., 2021; Mittal et al., 2015; Pope et al., 2019). According to the Life History (LH) model, unpredictability represents an important dimension of childhood adversity. Within this framework, unpredictability refers to random fluctuations in exposure to adverse situations across space and time, which is often characterized by changes in households that directly impact parents and/ or children (Ellis et al., 2009). Another line of research has shown that positive childhood experiences (PCEs) predict more favorable outcomes in adults (Narayan et al., 2018; Han et al., 2023). However, few studies have examined the effects of interactions between ACEs, such as unpredictability, and PCEs on people’s cognitive and behavioral outcomes in adulthood. Therefore, this study aims to investigate how PCEs interact with the exposure to unpredictability in childhood to predict CF in young adulthood. The PCEs will be measured by Predictability, Opportunity, and Safety Dimensions of Environmental Variability Questionnaire (POS-DEV) (Lopez et al., 2024), the unpredictability will be measured by Questionnaire of Unpredictability in Childhood (QUIC) (Glynn et al., 2019), and the CF will be measured using both a self-report survey, the Shift Subscale score of BRIEF-A (Roth et al., 2013), and a behavioral task, the modified Dimensional Change Card Sort (DCCS) (Zelazo, 2006). Because some studies have shown that the self-report and task-based measures may better be understood as two complementary but distinct windows on cognition (Snyder et al., 2021), we will also examine in this study whether patterns of associations between PCEs, childhood unpredictability, and CF will differ depending on how CF is measured. We hypothesize that the PCEs will interact with unpredictability to contribute to differences in CF in young adulthood. Moreover, we hypothesize that performance-based and self-report measures of CF will only be weakly correlated as in previous literature. This study will clarify the effects of both the adverse and benevolent childhood experiences on an important self-regulatory ability, which could inform prevention and intervention strategies to promote positive adult outcomes for people who have experienced a high level of instability in their childhoods.

Xiaoyin (Miracle) Liu

Advisor: Thomas Le

The Effect of Internalized Racism and Racial Collective Self-Esteem on Asian American Adults’ Disordered Eating: Psychological Distress as Mediator

Research emphasizes the importance of considering how sociocultural factors affect the disordered eating behaviors of Asian American adults. The present study will thus investigate how internalized racism and racial collective self-esteem are associated with disordered eating among Asian American adults, as well as the potential mediating role of psychological distress. Secondary analyses will be executed with a dataset containing a final sample of 796 Asian American adults who completed a cross-sectional survey that contained validated questionnaires that measured disordered eating, internalized racism, collective racial self-esteem, and psychological distress. Based on our hypotheses, regression analyses will examine if internalized racism might be positively associated with disordered eating, and whether collective racial self-esteem might be negatively associated with disordered eating among Asian American adults. Additionally, a mediation  analysis will also investigate if psychological distress might mediate the aforementioned associations. Regarding the implications of the present study, researchers and practitioners are encouraged to be cognizant about how Asian American adult clients’ experiences of internalized racism and psychological distress may affect their disordered eating. Pending study results, researchers and practitioners may also strive to increase racial collective self-esteem among this population. This study will help lay the foundation for future longitudinal research or research that examines these phenomena among specific Asian ethnic subgroups.

Sara Mayungo

Advisor: Thomas Le

Cultural and Gender Role Influences on Mental Health Outcomes in Queer Latina Individuals: Examining Sexual Empowerment and Disordered Eating

This research study seeks to unravel the intricate interplay of cultural, social, and clinical factors influencing the mental health and well-being of queer Latina individuals, with a focus on sexual empowerment and disordered eating. The study aims to explore the effects of Latinx cultural expectations and gender roles on mental health outcomes within this community. Using a survey methodology, a collection of validated scales will be employed to measure the independent variables, including Latinx cultural factors (Marianismo and Familismo), queer identity variables (open identification, community pride), and exposure to traditional gender roles. Mediators may include Religiosidad and sexual trauma. Mental health variables will serve as the study’s dependent variables, specifically sexual empowerment and agency as well as disordered eating.

I hypothesize that adherence to Latinx cultural factors (Marianismo and Familismo) and conflict with gender roles will impact mental health outcomes among queer Latina individuals. Specifically, higher adherence to cultural norms may be associated with increased rates of disordered eating and decreased sexual empowerment, with histories or sexual trauma/assault and Religiosidad acting as potential mediators. This research aims to provide crucial insights for mental health practitioners, guiding the development of culturally competent approaches. By understanding the complex interplay of cultural, social, and clinical factors, therapists can better support queer Latina individuals navigating their mental health, addressing generational trauma, and reconciling their identities within cultural contexts. Ultimately, this study contributes to fostering inclusivity and equity in mental health care for a diverse population.  

Sofia Vinci

Advisor: Cora Mukerji

Do positive experiences mitigate the effects of adverse childhood experiences on emotion regulation in adulthood? 

The effects of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on health outcomes have been widely studied in psychological research literature, including studies in the Philadelphia area exploring the effects of both family- and community-level exposures to adverse experiences like witnessing violence, suffering discrimination, or experiencing the effects of poverty. Research on ACEs shows that negative events experienced during childhood can have far-reaching effects on development, including the ability to emotionally regulate oneself and maintain relationships (Schultz and Waldinger, 2016; Kim and Cicchetti, 2009). Research also suggests that one’s emotional regulation ability has a strong relationship with mental health struggles such as depression and suicidal ideation (Garnefski et.al., 2001). However, there is much less research on the relationship between positive childhood experiences, such as having a supportive peer group or positive role model, on emotion regulation skills. To address this gap in the research, I will test whether positive experiences mitigate the effects of adverse childhood experiences on emotion regulation in adulthood. I will be using data from a retrospective study that asks participants to reflect on their adverse and positive childhood experiences and self-report on the cognitive emotional regulation strategies that they use in daily life. The Predictability, Opportunity, and Safety Dimensions Environmental Variability (POS-DEV) questionnaire will be used to measure positive childhood experiences, the Philadelphia Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) questionnaire will be used to measure adverse childhood experiences, and the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ) will be used to measure adaptive and maladaptive cognitive coping styles (Lopez et al., in preparation; Glynn et al., 2019). I hypothesize that there will be a relationship between adverse childhood experiences and differences in the adaptive coping strategies they use as young adults; I further predict that this relationship will be moderated by positive childhood experiences, such that the effects of adverse experiences on coping styles will be buffered. This is a new area of research that may provide greater context, and perhaps hope, into mitigating strategies for those recovering from abuse, neglect, or other forms of adversity. 

Ziting Zhang & Betty Zuo

Advisor: Anjali Thapar

EEG Study of Virtual Reality and Memory Performance

Researchers have traditionally utilized 2D environments to assess memory performance. However, the increasing sophistication of virtual reality (VR) technology offers a novel approach for simulating real-world environments that replicate sensorial characteristics such as complex visual scenes and audible conversations (Corriveau Lecavalier et al., 2018). Previous research shows that while immersive environments can improve spatial presence and potentially enhance long-term memory, the quality of immersion varies by technological setup, leading to inconsistent memory recall among participants (Mania & Chalmers, 2001; Ventura et al., 2019). The goal of this study is to investigate the impact of different immersive environments (3-D VR, 2-D gaming) on memory performance. It also examines brain activity during this process using EEG. Participants aged from 18 to 25 years old will be recruited and randomly assigned into one of the three conditions: Static, 2-D Desktop, or VR to explore an apartment and assess the target objects. After exploring the apartment, participants’ memory for the target objects will be tested on the accuracy of identifying the correct objects and their confidence level of accuracy while wearing an EEG cap to record brain activity. We hypothesize that navigable VR environments will improve memory performance by creating a more immersive environment than traditional Static or 2D environments, which will be reflected in memory performance and brain activity measured by EEG. The result will provide valuable insights into the effects of the level of engagement in the external environment on cognitive performance and profound implications in curing memory-related disorders.

Judy Zhu

Advisor: Anjali Thapar

Working memory load and negativity bias in depression

This research focuses on the differential impact of increased cognitive load on negativity bias among individuals with varying depression statuses. Negative information tends to be preferentially encoded compared to positive information due to its high behavioral and evolutionary relevance. However, negativity bias can be mitigated when people allocate their cognitive resources to processing demanding focal tasks, rather than being an ever-present "attention grabber." This bias is even stronger among depressed individuals. Given the limited capacity of working memory, the impact of depression-specific working memory deficits on emotional processing remains unclear.

According to the inhibitory control impairments in MDD, an increase in working memory load will further decrease cognitive inhibition among depressed individuals, leading to heightened processing of emotional distractors and an increase in negativity bias. Alternatively, according to the resource allocation hypothesis, due to constant ruminative processing, depressed individuals have a more limited working memory capacity available for current tasks (Mondal et al., 2007; Austin et al., 1997). As a result, their emotional processing will be mostly influenced by mood-congruent vs. mood-incongruent emotional stimuli, and increased working memory load will have little impact on their emotional processing. The current research will examine the validity of different possible explanations for depression-related working memory deficits by directly comparing differences in negativity bias when processing emotional interference across different levels of cognitive load between depressed and non-depressed individuals (Van Dillen & Derks, 2012). Negativity bias is operationalized by the reaction time differences in gender judgment of emotional faces while performing the working memory task. Under low load, the reaction time is slower for negative faces, serving as a relative index of emotional interference on gender judgment. Observing changes in reaction time differences between gender judgment of negative and positive emotional faces will provide further evidence about specific cognitive impairments in sustaining negativity bias among depressed individuals. The findings of this research will provide insights into cognitive-emotional interactions in depression, contributing to a better understanding of the etiology of negativity bias and the ruminative cycle of depression.